TOP: COUSINS ALLEN and Dave Crow stop a calf from leaving
the corral while separating calves from their mothers in prepa
ration to brand.
ABOVE: DAVE CROW, left, and Josh Hodges hold a calf while
Rod Gibson operates the branding iron last Friday during a cat
tle branding on Bob Crow’s farm and ranch near Arnold. The
Crow family has branded annually for about 50 years.
BOTTOM: BOB CROW’S brand, ‘RAV is placed onto cattle as a
proof of ownership, preventing them from being stolen.
RAW
hide
Ranchers herd up
for spring branding
Head ’em up, move ’em out.
Springtime means branding time for cattlemen
and women across the plains.
Young calves kicked as smoke rose from their
newly branded hides last Friday on the ranch of Bob Crow
near Arnold.
He and his son, Gary Crow, brand their cattle each year to
prevent them from being stolen.
Before the branding starts, they first herd up help from
family members: a father, mother, two sons, five grandchil
dren, one nephew and an assortment of hired hands.
It takes a lot of folks. After all, a lot of work must be
done.
About 350 head of calves were branded that Friday. But
first, they had to be separated from their mothers, who were
branded in previous years. Afterwards, the 1 - to 2-month-old
calves were corralled.
Three hired hands, Rod and Judy Gracey and Earl Dailey,
then roped critters from horseback, snagging them for three
groups of holders.
The holders then held each calf down while it was brand
ed and vaccinated. All bulls were castrated and sick calves
had their illnesses treated.
After the ordeal, the calves are allowed back into die com
fields. There they roam with their mothers and eat off last
year’s stalks, as well as their daily allowances of hay and
com.
Weather permitting, branding day tends to be one of the
most active days in a cow’s life and one of the most satisfy
ing for the rancher.
Bob Crow was relieved that die weatherman’s predicted
rain did not fall and all the work got done. It was a beautiful,
overcast day, perfect for bringing friends and family togeth
er to continue a Crow tradition that spans about 50 years.
Photos and story by
Lane Hickenbottom
